Creatures of the night – GOMA announces its final act for the Piccinini edition of Up Late

Many people tend to come out of their shells after dark. The night has long been associated with things getting a bit freaky, with the cover of darkness allowing us to be our true selves. Under this rationale, it makes perfect sense that one of our city’s most alluring attractions is perhaps best experienced by night. Patricia Piccinini’s Curious Affection is getting the famous GOMA Up Late treatment, bringing a host of eclectic musicians and the chance to see the exhibit after hours. Coming to the Gallery from June 8 to July 6, the program packs a serious punch to match the weird and wonderful nature of Patricia’s groundbreaking exhibit.

Much like the film series curated to accompany the exhibit, Patricia Piccinini Up Late is packed to the brim with indie gems, genre-bending acts and things you just don’t see every day. After some strategic teasing, Brisbane alt-rockers Cloud Control have just been announced as the closers for the program – and you’d best believe the rest of the line-up is just as juicy. As well as killer live sets from amazing artists, revellers will be treated to after-hours access to the gallery, rad DJ sets, delicious food and drink from the Up Late bars and GOMA Cafe Bistro. Alongside this offering, there will be a ‘Looking with Feeling’ talk series led by QUT’s Senior Lecturer for Visual Arts Dr Courtney Pedersen and Brisbane-based artist and writer Courtney Coombs. Participants are asked to leave their left-brain at the door to explore how various artworks in the exhibition trigger emotions.

Patricia Piccinini Up Late will consist of five glorious sessions over as many weeks, commencing on Friday June 8 with the genre-defying Amaya Laucirica launching the series. Following her is Xylouris White, a Melbourne-based collab between Greek singer and laouto player George Xylouris and Australian drummer Jim White of Dirty Three. The next session sees incomparable poet, actress and vocalist Lydia Lunch return to Australia with her all-star group Lydia Lunch Retrovirus, taking audiences on a journey through her vast decade-spanning catalogue. The June 22 session is headlined by Zola Jesus, bringing her classical, electronic, goth and experimental rock all the way from the USA. She shares the bill with Brisbane rapper Miss Blanks, the explosive force of nature who has quickly established herself as one of the most important voices in Aussie hip-hop. The second-last show is a punk-rock double header with Cable Ties and The Gooch Palms joining forces to tear it up.

Feeling curious? You can grab tickets to each of the Patricia Piccinini Up Late sessions through GOMA right now.